Parents across the state are looking for new child care options after several day care centers under the same ownership announced they are closing.
NBC Connecticut first reported Tuesday the abrupt closure of the Apple Tree Learning Center in Vernon, which is one of day care four locations owned by the estate of Kerry Hils.
Thursday the director of Wee Ones Child Care Center in Cromwell told NBC Connecticut she was informed that day care center, which shares the same owner as Apple Tree, will close Friday.
Staff spent the day calling parents to let them know. The director said she received a statement from the attorney representing the estate of former owner Kerry Hils saying that the business can no longer stay open. The director said they were helping parents make arrangement for new child care. Some staff already have other job offers.
The Apple Tree Learning Center in Colchester, also owned by the estate, will also close. Their director said the last day will be Oct. 5.
"I can't see why anyone would do this. I feel bad for my friends. I feel bad for the kids. I feel bad for the parents," said Alyssa Howard, a teacher at the Colchester location.
The Enfield location is also slated to close.
In a statement to NBC Connecticut, Michael Romano, attorney for the estate, said
“…the child care centers had been operating at a loss for many years and without him, the family was unable to keep the businesses afloat.”
He added that the estate is likely headed to insolvency and would lack funds for overhead and payroll that exceeded $20,000 weekly.
The explanation is little consolation to staff like Angela Gregoire, who also has two children of her own. She said she'll miss caring for the kids and families they've come to love.
"It just sucks that we didn’t get any notice. Now we’re just left," Gregoire said.
Romano also said there is not yet a plan to return deposits to any families, pending a review of payment records.
The Office of Early Childhood said that because these centers didn't provide the required 30-day notice to shut down, their office will be consulting with the state attorney general to see if there are legal consequences.
The full statement from the estate of Kerry Hils is below:
“The Estate of Kerry Hils regrets having to close the day care centers previously owned and operated by Kerry Hils.
Only recently did the Estate obtain copies of financial records and tax returns indicating that the child care centers had been operating at a loss for many years and without him, the family was unable to keep the businesses afloat.
It is apparent that the Hils estate will likely be insolvent and there would not be enough funds to continue operations, make payroll and pay overhead expenses as those bills came due.
The Hils family deeply regrets the impact this action has had on staff and families, but the passage of time would only deepen the losses and not result in a better ending.
We wish all our staff and children the best of luck in the future.”
